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Former US president Barack Obama hailed Jay Z as a kindred spirit as the hip-hop mogul became the first rapper to enter the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Thursday.

The elite club also welcomed Motown records’ path-breaking founder Berry Gordy at its annual induction – an evening of performances by top stars that, like songwriters themselves, stayed decidedly lower-key than televised award galas.

Obama made a surprise appearance by video to present the honour to Jay Z, who grew up as Sean Carter in a troubled housing project in Brooklyn and has gone on to become one of music’s wealthiest entrepreneurs.